Worcestershire were beaten by an innings and 117 runs by Sussex here on Friday night and on this performance look strong candidates for relegation. They were outplayed by a spirited Sussex side who decided to claim the extra half-hour when Worcestershire were 139 for eight at the scheduled close and with another player, James Cameron, retired hurt in the pavilion.

They scored two more runs before Jack Shantry edged Amjad Khan to Luke Wells at first slip and the match was over.

Two sessions in the match were lost to rain, so Worcestershire, in reality, were beaten in little over two days.

Sussex, who moved to third in the championship, had a lead of 258 when they declared and for the second time in the match the Worcestershire batsmen were unable to cope with aggressive fast bowling on an unusually bouncy pitch. And then Monty Panesar wrapped it up with four wickets for 23.

Phil Hughes had scored just nine when he gloved a short delivery down the leg-side and was caught by the keeper Ben Brown.

Vikram Solanki was late on his shot and bowled by Steve Magoffin and, when Moeen Ali, whom Sussex have found difficult to dislodge recently, fell to a sharp slip catch from Michael Yardy off the same bowler, the score was 87 for three.

The unfortunate Cameron was struck on the side of the head by Magoffin and though he remained at the crease he faced just one more ball before he retired hurt.

Yardy anticipated well to take another fine slip catch to dismiss Matthew Pardoe off Panesar, who then bowled Gareth Andrew. Worcestershire were five down for 120 when Amjad Khan had Gareth Andrew lbw, before Daryl Mitchell was bowled by Panesar.

Richard Jones was lbw to Amjad Khan, Ben Scott was well caught by the substitute fielder Andrew Hodd at silly point and finally Shantry fell.

Play did not get under way until after an early lunch because of heavy morning rain. When it did so Sussex added another muscular 95 runs before declaring.

Anyon scored an unbeaten 56 from 60 deliveries, just eight runs short of his career best, made earlier in the season.

Les Lenham, 76, the former Sussex opening batsman who celebrated 60 years with the club earlier this week, still coaches the players and Anyon has been one of his special projects. It is paying off.